Fairfield's coastline took a beating last fall when Superstorm Sandy paid an unwelcome visit, causing millions of dollars of damage to hundreds of homes.

The extent of the damage displaced many residents, some of whom have not yet returned as they await insurance settlements and other financing because their homes are currently uninhabitable. Others have already begun the process of renovating or rebuilding.

Despite the disruption, however, town officials and local real estate agents have noticed little change in the lure of living on Fairfield's waterfront.

Only a handful of houses are currently for sale on Fairfield Beach Road, which was hardest hit by the October storm, and also took a drubbing a year earlier during Tropical Storm Irene. A couple properties have sold since then and one recent buyer has already razed a storm-damaged house and is constructing a new one in its place.

"People move to the beach for emotional reasons and that won't change. With insurance rates increasing and FEMA regulations it'll be more challenging. But I don't see (many people) selling their house on the beach because of Sandy. Most people are rebuilding," said Melanie Smith of Prudential Connecticut Realty in Southport.

Not every damaged home will have to be lifted, Wendt said. New construction or houses that need substantial improvement or repairs must be elevated to a higher level than was required before storms Irene and Sandy. "That's defined as a repair or improvement that equals or exceeds 50 percent of the existing building's value," Wendt said.

Within the area that was flooded there were 1,800 residential structures and they suffered damage ranging from modest to catastrophic.

"We estimate that there are probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 homes that are in the substantial damage category, being 50 percent or more, and many hundreds have less severe damage but are still going to be in need for repair," Wendt said.

To date, he said, about 400 repair permits have been issued, representing an estimated $5.5 million in projects. That doesn't include new construction or house-lifting permits. Wendt said a number of demolition permits have been issued and about two dozen house-lifting permits have also been secured by homeowners.

"There are many, many more (houses) that need to be dealt with. There are still lots of folks who haven't finalized insurance settlements and funding sources to be able to make final decisions to be moving forward," said Wendt.

"Many people still want to stay. We've talked to a fair number of folks that, even though they sustained less than 50 percent damage still want to elevate. They want to protect themselves against future damage. What they saw was the homes that were built in the last 10 to 15 years to FEMA standards sustained very little damage," Wendt said. While older houses were under water many newer houses were high and dry, he said.

"Some people might opt out and decide not to face this type of (storm) again and others are resolved to stay the course and make their house more resilient to damage and hope that they won't have to deal with it again," he said.

"Storms are not a deterrent. (The water) gets in your blood. People get used to waking up and seeing the sunrise over Long Island Sound. It's something you don't want to leave," said William Bodine, an agent with Nicholas H. Fingelly Real Estate in Fairfield and a waterfront resident.

The types of houses along Fairfield's waterfront range from charmingly petite to grand estates.

A 1,194-square-foot, five-room Colonial beach cottage on the market at 1397 Fairfield Beach Road, which is west of Reef Road, was not damaged in the recent storms despite its location just yards from Long Island Sound. During the worst of Sandy, this house was surrounded by water but it never entered the house.

Built in 1900, this house sits on a 0.17-acre parcel and is on the market for $1.495 million. It has two bedrooms, a new kitchen with granite counter tops, two full and one partial bath, outdoor shower, front porch and a river stone fireplace.

On Southport Harbor, there is a 4,700-square-foot, eight-room Contemporary house at 273 Harbor Road, offered for $3.495 million. This house was also untouched by the storm. It was built in 1939 and features three levels of living space including four bedrooms, two fireplaces, three balconies and sliding doors from the living and family rooms to the natural stone patio and waterside in-ground swimming pool.

The 0.43-acre property also has its own dock and a two-car attached garage. The kitchen has a backsplash of hand-painted tiles depicting local wildlife and sea creatures including a turkey, crab, lobster, chickens and fish.

On the edge of Southport Harbor is a period Colonial house, built in 1937, at 1 River Lane. The private lane, off River Street, is a quiet cul-de-sac with only three homes. This 4,958-square-foot house, on the market for $2.75 million, sits on a parcel of just about an acre and has five bedrooms, two fireplaces and an open floor plan. The attached garage has a balcony above it. The level property contains open lawn and mature plantings.

Another waterfront property currently on the market is an antique Colonial, built in 1809, at 892 Harbor Road. Updates have made it appropriate for contemporary living while preserving its historic charm. The 6,240-square-foot house, on the market for $4.975 million, sits on a 0.75-acre lot, which is a generous size for most waterfront properties.

The walls of the home's formal dining room feature a hand-painted mural by Brookfield artist Diane Voyentzie that replicates Harbor Road including this house.